Musk backs Joe Rogan’s $100K debate challenge to vaccine scientist after RFK Jr podcast

Musk backs Joe Rogan’s $100K debate challenge to vaccine scientist after RFK Jr podcastJune 18, 2023San Francisco, June 18 (IANS) After a controversial podcast interview with Democratic presidential contender and anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., podcaster Joe Rogan has received support from tech billionaire Elon Musk for his offer to ask leading vaccine scientist Peter Hotez for a debate with Kennedy.Rogan offered $100,000 to Hotez to debate Kennedy on his podcast after he criticised Rogan’s interview with him.Hotez recently tweeted that Kennedy spread a lot of misinformation on the show, which Rogan didn’t like and snapped back.He also asked Hotez to participate in a podcast discussion with Kennedy.To which, Hotez said, “Joe, you have my cell, my email, I’m always willing to speak with you”.Later, Rogan tweeted: “This is a non answer. I challenged you publicly because you publicly quote tweeted and agreed with that dogshit vice article. If you’re really serious about what you stand for, you now have a massive opportunity for a debate that will reach the largest audience a discussion like this has ever had. If you think someone else is better qualified, suggest that person”.The heated debate caught Musk’s attention, who tweeted: “He’s afraid of a public debate because he knows he’s wrong”.In response to Musk supporting Rogan, Hotez asked Musk why he supports anti-vaccine when many people have died due to misinformation.Musk then used the opportunity to emphasise that he is pro-vaccine and that his entire family is vaccinated.However, he has his own issues with the campaign and believes in the side effects of overusing vaccines.”First of all, I am generally pro-vaccine. I have been vaccinated against pretty much everything, as have my kids. Second, I think there is tremendous promise in synthetic mRNA. It is like medicine going from analog to digital”, Musk tweeted.”So many people I know had serious side effects from the vaccines, including myself. Failure to acknowledge that is a lie. As for the deaths you claim are due to Covid-19, why is the nation of Sweden still alive!?” he added.Musk then urged Hotez to participate in the JRE podcast debate with Rogan and Kennedy.–IANSshs/vdhttps://ians.in/news/musk-backs-joe-rogan-s-100k-debate-challenge-to-vaccine-scientist-after-rfk-jr-podcast/C-1-1603066.html